United Methodist Churches Amherst, Ohio

PASTOR'S PAGE

Pastor Dan greets member, Henry Fischer.

Pastor Dan greets member Ruth Schribley.

Go up on a high mountain, messenger Zion!  Raise you voice and shout, messenger Jerusalem!   Raise it; don’t be afraid; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” (Isaiah 40:9 CEB).
 
In verse 6 of this same chapter of Isaiah the prophet asks, what should I call out?  When
we deal with our responsibility of Christian witnessing we all are faced with the same question.  “What should I  call out?”   As we ponder that question we look first to our own experiences with God, and as we inventory those experiences we use them as a stage to from which we tell “the message”.   Many persons who are new to faith however often feel inadequate in witnessing because they see their store house of “God experiences” small in number.   
It is always appropriate, in our “Christian witnessing”, to share our own story but it should never distract from God’s message which as Isaiah says we are to “shout” out from the high mountain, and which is – “Here is your God!”   
It is this message that is so very appropriate and so; desperately needed to be heard this Christmas season. 
The message we see when we look to the manger and see a family of low esteem and humility bringing God’s message which is the message of Emmanuel- God with us.  We should never be afraid to deliver this message. 
Boldly sa “Merry Christmas” instead of happy holiday.  
 
 Loving God, stay close to me and be with  me this season and throughout the year as I seek to bring to those I encounter your message of Emmanuel.  Amen 
  
Pastor Dan




updated 12-12-11